Chives Seeds – Heirloom Onion-Flavored Culinary & Ornamental Classic
- Ontario Grown
$1.95
SKU: GS-6023-CHI-DT
- Free shipping on orders over $50 (in Canada)
- Organicly grown
- Non GMO
Description
Common Chives (Allium schoenoprasum), a celebrated open-pollinated heirloom perennial, have been valued for centuries across kitchen gardens, traditional culinary arts, and natural landscaping systems. Growing in dense, clump-forming tufts of slender, hollow, grass-like leaves reaching 12 to 18 inches in height, this hardy member of the amaryllis family produces a prolific show of globular, lavender-pink flower heads in late spring and early summer. Highly prized for its mild, delicate onion-like flavor, Chives are an essential kitchen staple used fresh or dried to elevate salads, potato dishes, soups, and egg recipes, while the colorful, edible blooms make a beautiful garnish. Beyond their culinary appeal, the plant’s natural sulfur compounds help deter common garden pests when grown as a companion, while its nectar-rich blossoms attract an abundance of beneficial pollinators.
Specifications
- Plant Name: Common Chives / Garden Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
- Cultivar Type: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
- Plant Class: Hardy Perennial (Zones 3–9) / Amaryllis Family (Amaryllidaceae)
- Color: Rich green foliage, globular lavender-pink to purple flower heads
- Plant Characteristics: Dense clump-forming habit (12–18 inches tall / 30–45 cm), slender hollow leaves, edible flowers, pollinator-attracting blooms, natural pest-deterrent qualities, cold-hardy, reliable year-to-year regrowth
- Suitable Space: Kitchen gardens, dedicated herb beds, raised garden rows, companion borders, patio containers
- Season: Early Spring through Autumn Harvest (Perennial, goes dormant in winter, returns early spring)
- Best Time for Sowing (Zone 6b): Start seeds indoors late February to March in plug trays 6 to 8 weeks prior to transplanting (sow 0.25 inches deep in clumps of 4 to 6 seeds; keep in darkness at 15–21°C / 60–70°F for germination). Transplant outdoors mid-April to May once soil can be worked. Direct sow outdoors April to May or early autumn for natural overwintering. Space clumps 8 to 12 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart.
- Sunlight: Full Sun to Partial Shade (thrives in full direct sun; tolerates light afternoon shade)
- Watering Needs: Moderate (requires consistent moisture, especially during early establishment; prefers fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, though quite drought-tolerant once mature)
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